Meerkats
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Meerkats emerge early in the morning from their dwelling via several exit holes of a greatly expanded and modified but abandoned termite mound. The mound contains numerus tunnels and recesses to accomodate the enlarging colony. They stood there for a few minutes sizing us up, and then dashed to the adjacent sandy plains where they proceeded to hunt for breakfast. They have a very acute sense of smell that enables them to track the footsteps and find the insect prey hidden in its burrow. I watched and photographed as a meerkat dug to a depth of about 6-8 inches at the base of a clump of grass, and uncovered a buried scorpion, which it immediately devoured. It is immune to the scorpion's poison. Meerkats are related to the mongoose famly. [Jack's Camp, Botswana].
Double image of two 6-month Meerkats standing. R, a 2-year adult with 6-month-old in background. [Jack's Camp, Botswana].
Double image: 9-month-old digging (L); finding & eating a dung beetle.Note the sharp teeth (R). [Jack's Camp, Botswana].
Double Image: The Meerkat finds a scorpion. The diggings are about 5-6 inches deep, which is not a prolem for meerkats, because they have well-developed, sharp front claws. As previously stated, they know where to dig, because they can smell the insect's tracks as it went to and from its burrow. {Jack's Camp, Botswana].
Double image: An adult male Meerkat (L), Juvenile (R): Because they are now some distance from their den in the termite mound, they are very vulnerable to predators.They are easy prey for small carnivores on the ground, and raptors fin the sky. Even the young ones are trained to be alert at all times. [Jack's Camp, Botswana].
Two Adult Males Standing Guard
Double image: Two adult male Meerkats standing guard. They are particularly wary of the large raptors, i.e., Martial or Tawny Eagles and vultures, who could swoop silently from a great height, seize one, and kill it by dropping it from a height of 50 feet, or so. [Jack's Camp, Botswana].
While the young Meerkat follows the insect scent, the adult keeps watch. The name is a poor one, because 'Meer' in africaans means 'swamp', but this animal does not live near swamps, nor is it a 'cat'. It is related to the mongoose. [Jack's Camp, Botswana].
Young adult Meerkat digs & finds a beetle in its burrow at the base of a clump of grass, which it immediately devoured.[Botswana].
An adult female Meerkat with her youngster on the top of an old termite mound. [Botswana].
Adult male with his two 4-month-olds being taught always to be alert for predators from the sky as well as those on land. [The Meerkat is much sought by the large raptors like the Martial Eagle (largest of the african eagles) which hunts from great altitudes, being no more than a dot in the sky.{Jack's Camp, Botswana].
Adult male & 6-month cub Meerkats checking security before starting to dig for breakfast. [Botswana].
Adult Meerkat mother holding her 3-month pup's tail.[Botswana].
Adult male (left), and two adult females, with their very young pups first surveying the territory before leaving their den. [Botswana].
